Printing cylinder



Aug. 25, 1936. w. F. HUCK ET AL PRINTING CYLINDER V 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Dec. 18, 1954 Aug. 25, 1936. w. F. HUCK ET AL ,0 8

PRINTING CYLINDER Filed Dec. 18, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 25,1 936 "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,051,858 ranv'rnvo CYLINDER.

York

Application December 18,1934, Serial No. 758,124

16 Claims.

This invention relates to printing cylinders, and more particularly toprinting cylinders of the type having gaps, and which are constructedand arranged to operably support flexible sheet metal printing plates tobe employed in pianographic or intaglio printing.

In cylinders of this type, it is desirable that as much of theperipheral surface of the cylinders as possible be utilized forimpression purposes. This is particularly so in offset printing pressesemploying flexible sheet metal planographic plates. In this type ofpress,by employing substantially the entire peripheral portion of theplate cylinder for impression production, a larger sheet for a givencylinder size'can-be printed, and continuous designs can also be printedon webs in ofiset web printing-or web perfecting presses.

Furthermore, by closing or reducing the peripheral dimension of theplate cylinder gap inplanographic or offset presses the quality of theprinting is greatly improved. In presses of this type ink and water formrollers operably engage the printing surface of the flexible platesupported by the plate cylinder, and by closing or reducing the size ofthe cylinder gap the continuous operate rotation of these form-rollersis uninterrupted, thus insuring the spreading of-uniforrn films of inkand water on the printing surface of the printing plate. v

In printing cylinders of the type employed in intaglio printing machinesfor photogravure or rotcgravure printing, it is desirable that theentire peripheral surface of the plate cylinders be employed in theprinting operation. Until recently, photogravure or rotogravure printinghad been done on a printing machine employing a relatively thick coppercylinder or shell mounted on the peripheral portion of the intaglioplate cylinder on which the subject or design had been produced by theusual intaglio pits or wells. This cylinder rotated in ink which filledthe pits or wells of the intaglio design, and the surplus ink wasscraped from the face of the plate by the usual stationary doctor platepositioned at a desrable scraping angle relative to the periphery of thecylinder.

This method, while producing satisfactory printing, proved veryexpensive, especially where a variety of subjects had to be printed.After the required number of prints of a subject had been made, theperipheral surface of the cylinder was ground down, polished, and afresh subject then produced thereon; or, alternatively, a large numberof expensive intaglio printing cylinders had to bekept in store.

-More recently it has been proposed to mount v a flexible printingplate, having a design in intaglio thereon, around the periphery of thecylinder, the terminals of the plate being suitably secured to thecylinder. These flexible plates are capable of ready removal andreplacement, and this arrangement has considerably reduced the cost ofphotogravure or rotogravure printing. However, the existing devices andmeans for securing the flexible printing plate to the periphery of thecylinder are either very expensive to manufacture, lack sufllcientrigidity, or leave gaps between the plate terminals which interfere withthe operation of the doctor blade. As hereinbefore stated, it 'isdesirable-ffthat certain types of printing cylinders, which operablysupport flexible sheet metal printing plates, be constructed andarranged to utilize as much as possible of the periphery of eachprintingcylinder for impression purposes.

V 20 An object of the present invention is to pro- -vide' a printingcylinder having operable components for securelybinding a flexibleprinting plate around the periphery of the cylinder, the cylinder andthe components being constructed and arranged so that the entirecircumference or approximately the entire circumferenceof the cylinderis made available for impressionv production.

Another object of this invention is to provide a plate cylinder forreceiving a flexible printing plate around the periphery thereof, thecylinder having components operable to securely lock the flexibleprinting plate-on the cylinder, and co* acting to fill the peripheralportion of the cylinder gap to thereby complete or substantiallycomplete the cylinder periphery.

A specific object of the present invention is the provision of a platecylinder .for receiving a flexible printing plate around the peripherythereof, the cylinder having a rotatable component operable to securelybind or stretch the flexible print- I ing plate on the cylinder gap, andresilient components constructed and arranged to bias or stress therotatable-member toward plate-binding or gap-filling position.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of aprintingcylinder incorporating means for securing one tenninal' of a flexibleprinting plate to the cylinder, a movable member, means for attachingthe opposed terminal of the flexible printing plate to the movablemember, and a manually operable member operably connected with themovable member through the intermediation of a leverage mechposition andfor filling substantially the peripheral portion of the cylinder gap,and manually operable means for actuating the movable plate securingmembers and for rigidly supporting it against movement under impressionstresses when in plate-securing or gap-filling position.

It is also an object of our present invention to provide a printingcylinder of generally improved construction and arrangement, whereby thede-' vice will be. simple, durable and inexpensive in construction, aswell as convenient, practical, serviceable and efficient in its use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts, and in the details of con-.

struction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood thatvarious changes in form, proportions and minor details of constructionmay be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing anyadvantages of the inven tion.

For a complete disclosure of the invention, a detail description of aprinting cylinder embodying the invention in preferred forms will now begiven in connection 'with the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification,

whereinz- V Figure 1 is a fragmental elevation, parts appearing insection, of one end of a printing cylinder, its components shown in openposition;

Figure 2 is a similar view, but depicting the tion;

Figure 3 is a fragmental longitudinal section taken on the line 3-3 ofFigure 2, and depicting one end of the improved cylinder and the platesecuring components;

components in plate securing or binding 'posi- Figure 4 is a fragmentallongitudinal section' taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmental elevation looking in the direction of the arrow8 of Figure 2, and showing the resilient connecting link and coast-- ingcomponents;

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail view of the plate terminal clamps andcoacting detent, the clamps being shown in plate securing or bindingposition; and

Figure 7-15 a similar view, but showing the clamps-arranged tosubstantially abut the terminals of the flexible printing plate asemployed in intaglio printing'v; .3 fig-Referring to the" drawings, inwhich similar reference characters designate corresponding parts, I.indicates a printing cylinder of the type to be employed inplan'ographic and intaglio printing presses. This'cylinder includes acylinrings 2| surround the trunnions l3 and aresecmedtotheendwallsl3ofthecylinder ill by means of suitable securing device indicated at22.

The cylindrical shell I2 is offset, as indicated at 23, and an arcuategap or recess 24 is formed in the offset portion 23. A filler block 25is secured to a fiat surface or wall 26 formed at one terminal of thecylindrical shell i2, immediately adjacent the gap or recess 24, bymeans of a shoulder screw 28 or other securing device. Immediatelyadjacent the filler block 25 a stop member or block 30 is rigidlysecured to a machined surface 32, formed in the oifset 23 of thecylindrical shell l2 immediately adjacent the wall 26 and positioned atan angle relatively thereto. A shoulder screw or other-securing device34 extends through the stop block 38 and is threaded into the offsetportion 23. A portion of the stop block 30 projects into the recess 24to provide a stop surface or shoulder 36.

A movable member in the form of a filler and plate-securing block 38 isoperably positioned in the recess 24, and the inner wall 48 of thefiller block 38 is machined to accurately conform to the arcuate wall ofthe recess. The movable member 38, with a view to rotary or oscillatorymotion, is provided with tubular trunnions 42, which are fastened to thesaid member 38 by screws 43 threadedly engaged in the latter, the saidtrunnions turning in the bearer rings'2l, thus permitting the fillerblock 38 to rotate on the axis of the trunnions, but with the arcuatewall 40 of the said block in engagement with the arcuate wall of therecess 24. A triangular recess 44 is formed in the filler block 38, anda stop shoulder or surface 48 is provided at one terminal of therecess44 and positioned to engage the stop shoulder 36 of the stop member 30to limit the turning movement of the movable filler member38, as will behereinafter more fully disclosed. The outer surface 41 of the'fillermember 38 is of arcuate contour and is: shaped so as to conform to theperipheral contour of the cylinder 1 8 when the filler member 38 is ingap-filling or plate-securing position.

Although the movable filler member 38 and cooperating components may beassembled in the cylinder for operation in various ways, it is preferredthat the arcuate wall of the gap or recess 24 be machined with thefiller block 25 in position so that the inner arcuate surface 21 of thisblock may accurately conform to the arcuate contour of the wall of therecess or gap 24. After the wall of the recess 24 has been machined, thestop member 33 is then secured in position, and the filler member 33, inturn, is operably positioned in, the cylinder and rotated until its stopshoulder 48 engages the stop surface 36 of the stop member 33. Thefiller member 38 is then secured in this position and the outer surfaceof the cylinder 18 and filler member 38 accurately machined, therebycausing the arcuate surface 41 of the filler member 33 to accuratelyconform to the peripheral contour of the printing cylinder l0.

Means are provided-for rotating or oscillating the filler block 33 toand from gap-closing position. While the mechanism may be varied withinlimits, 9. preferred arrangement includes a shaft 43, whichextendslongitudinally through the cylinder l3, and it is mounted in alinedbearings 83 formed in the end walls of the cylinder "I, and alinedbearings provided in lugs or bosses 84 forming continuations of theoffsets 23. The lugs 34 are spaced in regular intervals axially thecylinder l3, and interposed between the lugs 84, and also between thelugs 84 and th end is walls I8, are a plurality of crank members orscrews 88. Spaced cars 82 extend from each' crank head 58, and a bearinglug or block 84 secured at one terminal of'an arcuate resilient link 88is pivotally mounted therebetween, as indicated at 88. A plurality oflever arms I8 are'secured to the rotatable filler blocks 38 by means ofscrews or other suitable securing devices, indicated at 12. The outerterminal of each lever arm 12 is bifurcated to provide spaced ears I4,and a hearing block or lug 18 secured to the opposed terminal of'theresilient link 88 is pivotally secured thereto, as indicated at I8.

In order to manually rotate or oscillate the shaft 48, a lever or wrenchhead 88 is secured to the shaft 48 at one end of the cylinder andoutside of a bearer ring 2|, and this head is held.

against rotation relative to the shaft 48 by a key or feather 82. Arecess or socket 84 is formed. in the lever head 88, and a suitableoperating tool 88 is removably received therein. In order to insure thatthe operating tool 88 may be inserted and removed from the lever head 88only at predetermined phases'of the operation of the device, we haveemployed locking mechanism similar to that disclosed in the copendingapplication of Bali and Lamatsch, Serial No. 712,306,

flied February 21, 1934, and best shown in Figure 4 of these drawings.When the lever head 88 and operating tool 88 are in closed or platesecuring position the enlarged head 81 of a plunger 88 is aligned withan aperture formed in the bearer ring 2|, thereby permitting the beveledsurfaces. 88 of the operating tool'88 to force the plunger 88 inwardlyagainst the spring-pressed plunger 84 when the said operating tool 88 isinserted or removed, thereby permitting the removal and insertion of theoperating tool 88. A second plunger 98 is provided, and this plungeralso cooperates with an aperture formed in the bearer ring 2| and havinga spring-pressed plunger 81, to prevent the turning of the lever head 88when the operating tool88 is withdrawn from the socket- 84 of the leverhead. This arrangement insures absolute safety in operation of thedevice, but inasmuch as it has been made the subject matter of anotherapplication no further description will curely clamping these plates tothe terminals of the flexible printing plate P.

In order to retain a printing plate terminal in position on the cylinderI8, suitable detents are provided in the form of plungers I88 which areslidably mounted in recesses I88 formed in each bearer ring 2i. Eachplunger has a stem H8 ex-- tending therefrom I and a helical compressionspring III surrounds the stem and serves to projeot the plunger-beyondthe inner surfaceof each bearer ring,and' the outward movement of-theextending recess 88 is formed a 3 plunger, responsive to the springtension, is limited by a head or nut- I I2 secured to the stem I I8.

In order to secure the flexible printing plate P in printing position,the clamping plates I82 are secured to one terminal thereof and arepositioned and secured within the recess '88, and,

when in position, the detents I88 snap in'place behind-them to securethe printing plate terminal to the cylinder. The movable filler block 38is then turned togap filling position, as will be hereinafter disclosed,and the cylinder is thenrevolved to thread the. plate between theprinting cylinder I8 and the conventional 00- operating form rollers andimpression cylinder, not shown. After one complete revolution of thecylinder, the rotation is stopped and the filler block 381s moved toopen position, and, the clamp plates I82, which are secured to the freeterminal of the flexible plate P, are positioned in the recess I88. Thefiller block 38 is then'returned to its gap closing position thusdrawing the flexible printing plate tightly around the cylinder andsecurely binding it thereto.

In moving the movable filler block 38 from open to gap-closing position,the operating tool 88 is manually moved clock-wise, as viewed in Figures1 and 2, thus rotating the shaft 48 which, in turn, rotates the crankheads 58 to cause the resilient links 88 to move toward the left,thereby moving the outer terminals of the lever arms I8 to the left,thus oscillating the filler block on its tubular trunnions to closedpositioh. As each crank head 88 moves toward its closing position, itproduces a toggle movement thus imparting maximum operating stress toits resilient link 88, and the opposed terminal of, the link 88 is alsomoving the outer terminal,

of its lever arm I8 through an are located to insure maximum leveragestress being imparted to the free terminal of the flexible printingplate P. The closing movement of the operating tool 88 and head 88forces the stop shoulder 48 of the rotatable filler block 38 to engagethe stop surface 38 of the stop member 38, as shown in Figure 2, and, inthis position, the outer arcuate surface 41 of the fliler block 38accurately conforms to the peripheralcontour of the printing cylinderI8. By interposing the flexible links 88 between the crank heads 58 andthe lever arms I8, accurate positioning of the flller block 38 isinsured, because after the stop shoulder 48 engages the stop surface 38a slight over motion. of the operating tool 88' causes the stop shoulder48 tobe stressed or biased toward its closing position in engagementwith the stop surface 38.

In order to open the flller block 38 to thereby permit. the removal ofthe flexible printing plate P, the operating tool 88,is moved'counterclock-wise, thus moving the components to the position indicated inFigure 1. The wall of the recess 44 engages the stop member 38 thuslimit ing the opening movement of the filler block 38.

When the cylinder is to be employed in piano graphic or offset printing,the beveled faces II4 of the outer clamp plates I82 abut, as indicated iin Figure 6, thereby leaving a small space or gap between the terminalsof the flexible printing plate P. However, if the arrangement is to beemployed in intaglio or rotogravure'printing, as indicated in Figure 7,the outer clamp plates I82a are madesomewhat thinner, and in theirabut-, ting position, the terminals of the printing plate P also abut.To insure a smooth or uninterrupted printing plate surface forengagement with the conventional doctor blade, not shown, a

at the plate terminals to completely close the crevice formed by therounded corners of the abutting terminals of the printing plate P.

Having thus described our invention, what is claimed is: a

1. In a printing cylinder having a gap, means for attaching one terminalof a flexible printing "plate to the cylinder, a movable member supforattaching one terminal of a flexible printing plate to the cylinder, amovable member operably supported in the gap and operable to open andclose the gap, means for attaching the opposed terminal of the flexibleprinting plate to the said movable member, a manually operable member,and a resilient member operably connecting the movable member andmanually operable member to move and bias the movable member towardgap-closing position by the movement of the manually operable member tothereby securely bind the flexible printing plate around the peripheryoi the cylinder.

3. In a printing cylinder having'a gap; means for attaching one terminalof a flexible printing plate to the cylinder, a movable member supportedin .the cylinder and operable to open and close the gap, meansiorattaching the opposed terminal of the flexible printing plate to thesaid movable member, a manually operable member, and a resilient memberoperably connecting the movable member and manually operable member tomove and bias the movable member toward gap-closing position by themovement of the manually operable member to thereby securely bind theflexible printing plate around the periphery of the cylinder, a surfaceof the movable member conforming to the peripheral-contour of thecylinder when the movable member is in gapclosing position to therebysupport a portion of the flexible printing plate.

4.'In a printing cylinder having a gap and substantially the entire wallof the gap being arcuate, means-for attaching one terminal of a flexibleprinting plate to the cylinder, an arcuate movable member pivotallysupported within the arcuate gap and operable to 'open' and close thegap, means iorattaching the opposed terminal of the flexible printingplate to the said movable member, manually operable means for moving themovable member to gap-closing position to thereby bind the flexibleprinting plate around the periphery of the cylinder, substantially theentire surface of the movable member which is within the gap engagingthe arcuate wall of the gap when in gap closing position to therebyimpart substantially all the printing impression stresses to thecylinder.

5. In a printing cylinder having an arcuate gap, meansior attaching oneterminal of a flexible printing plate to the cylinder, an arcuatemovable member operable to open and close the gap.

means for .pivotally mounting the arcuate mov able member in the gap.means for attaching the suitable composition, indicated at H6, is placedopposed terminal of the flexible printing plate to the movable member,manually operable means for moving the arcuate movable member togapclosing position to thereby bind the flexible plate around theperiphery of the cylinder, the arcuate surface of the movable memberengaging the arcuate wall of the gap when in gap-closing position toimpart the printing and impression stresses directly to the cylinderindependent of the means for pivotally mounting the movable member.

6. In a. printing cylinder having a gap, means for attaching oneterminal of a flexible printing plate to the cylinder, a movable membersupported in the cylinder and operable to open and close the gap, meansfor attaching the opposed terminal of the flexible printing plate to thesaid movable member, a stop member supported in the cylinder, means formoving the movable mem- 7. In a printing cylinder having a gap, meansfor attaching one terminal of a flexible printing plate to the cylinder,a rotatable member supported in the cylinder and operable to open andclose the gap, the rotatable member conforming I to the peripheralcontour of the cylinder when in ible printing plate to the cylinder, anarcuate rotatable member supported in the gap and conformingsubstantially to the contour of the gap and operable to open and closethe gap, the rotatable member conforming to the peripheral portion ofthe cylinder when in gap-closing posi t on to thereby support a portionof the flexible printing plate, means for attaching the opposed terminalof the flexible printing plate to the rotatable member, a stop membersup- 1 ported by'the, cylinder and projecting intothe 'arcuate gap,means for moving the rotatable member to open and close the gap, thegap.- closing movement of the rotatable member acting to securely bindthe flexible print ng plate around the periphery of the cylinder. theclosing movement of the rotatable member being limited ible printingplate to the'cylinder, a-movable member supported in the cylinder andoperable to open and close the gap, the opposed terminal of the'flexibleprinting plate being attached to the movable member, means for movingthe movable member to command close the gap. the. gapclosing movement'oithe movable member acting by the stop member, and resilient means for tosecurely bind the flexible printing plate around the cylinder.

10. In a printing cylinder having a gap, a yieldable detent movablerelative to and engaging one terminal of a flexible printing plate forattaching the terminal of the flexible printing plate to the cylinder, amovable member supported in, the cylinder and operable to open and closethe gap. the opposed terminal of the flexible printing plate beingattached to the movable member, means for moving the movable member toopen and close the gap, the gap-closing movement of the movable memberacting to securely bind the flexible printing plate around the periphery.of the cylinder.

11. In a printing cylinder having a gap, means for attaching oneterminal of a flexible printing plate to the cylinder, a movable membersupported in the gap and operable to open and close the gap, means forattaching the opposed terminal of the flexible printing plate to thesaid movable member, amanually operable member,

, a variable-leverage mechanism operably connecting the movable memberand the manually operable member, the leverage mechanism beingoonstructed and arranged to provide maximum leverage ratio when themovement of the-manually operable member moves the movable member togap-closing position to thereby securely bind the flexible printingplate around the cylinder.

12. In a printing cylinder having a gap, means for attaching oneterminal of a flexible printing plate to the cylinder, a movable membersupported in the gap and operable to open and close the gap, means forattaching the opposed terminal of the flexible printing plate to thesaid movable member, a manually operable member, a leverage mechanismoperably connecting the movable member and the manually operable member,the leverage mechanism being constructed and arranged to provide maximumleverage ratio when the movement of the manually operable member movesthe movable member to gap-closing position to thereby securely bind theflexible printing plate around the cylinder, and means for locking themanually operable member in closed position. v

13. In a printing cylinder having a gap, a stop member projecting intothe gap, means for attaching one terminal of a flexible printing plateto the cylinder, a movable member operably supported in the gap andoperable to open and close the gap, the stop member limiting thegap-closing movement of the movable member, means for attaching theopposed terminal of the flexible printing plate to the movable member, amanually operable member, and leverage mechanism operably connecting themovable member and the manually operable member, the leverage mach-1*anism being constructed and arranged to present maximum leverage ratiowhen the movement of the manually operable member moves the movablemember to gap-closing position against the stop member to securely bindthe flexible printing plate around the cylinder.

14. In a printingcylinder having a gap, a stop member projecting intothe gap, means for attaching one terminal of a flexible printing plateto the cylinder, a movable member operably supported in the gap andoperable to open and close the gap, the stop member limiting thegapclosing movement 01 the movable member, means for attaching theopposed terminal of the flexible printing plate to the movable member, amanually operable member, and leverage mechanism operably connecting themovable member and the manually operable member, the leverage mechanismbeing constructed and arranged to present maximum leverage ratio whenthe movement of the manually operable member moves the movable member togap-closing position against the stop member to securely bind theflexible printing platearound the cylinder, and means for locking themanually operable member in closed position.

15. In a printing cylinder having a gap, a stop member, means forattaching one terminal of a flexible printing plate to the cylinder, amovable member pivotally supported in the gap and operable to open andclose the gap, the stop member limiting the gap-closing movement of themovable member, means for attaching the opposed terminal of the'flexibleprinting plate to the movable member, a'shaft, a manually operable leverfor rotating the shaft, leverage mechanism operably connecting themovable member and the shaft to move the movable member to open andclose the gap as the shaft is rotated, the gap closing movement of themovable member acting to securely bind the flexible printing platearound the cylinder.

16. In a printing cylinder having a gap, a stop member, means forattaching one terminal of a flexible printing plate to the cylinder, amovable member pivotally supported in the gap and operable to open andclose the gap, the stop member limiting the gap closing movement of themovable member, means for attaching the opposed terminal of the flexibleprinting plate to the movable member, a shaft, a manually operable leverfor WILLIAM F. Huck. mvnzo A. HUNTING.

